H709 - Student Innovation Tuition Waiver

• Directs the State Board of Community Colleges to waive tuition and registration fees for qualifying students in fiscal years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015.

• Eligible students must meet academic requirements including: 3.0 GPA from eligible high schools, 85th percentile or higher on SAT/ACT, or 3.0 GPA on 30+ semester hours of college coursework.

• Requires students to be U.S. citizens, North Carolina residents, degree-seeking community college students, compliant with Selective Service, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and not have criminal drug conviction convictions.

• Mandates that credits earned through the program are transferable to University of North Carolina constituent institutions.

• Requires the State Board to report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by January 1, 2015, on program implementation and recommendations for continuation beyond 2014-2015.